Bont Riot Buckle

Bont's latest Riot road shoes take the customisable fit and stiffness of the original Riot and improve on the aesthetics significantly. The fibreglass tub offers a great fit and the Z Form Velcro strap combined with the buckle closure is good. Not only are these very good road shoes, they're also the cheapest heat-mouldable shoes on the market. The trouble is, the Boa versions are only £50 more.

• Pros: Brilliant fit, stiff sole, much-improved aesthetics, price
• Cons: Closure system isn't as good as the Boa version

Why does it help to be able to bake your shoes? Well, for some there are performance benefits to be found and watts to be saved. But for most, comfort is the biggest factor. Pressure spots can be relieved and heel retention can be adjusted to help overall fit.

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The moulding process is very simple. You pop them in the kitchen oven at 70°C for 20 minutes, which softens the sole enough that when you put your feet in it forms to their shape. I used the heel of my hand to press the heel sides together and add a little more arch support. Once cool, you can put your cleats on and try them out on the trainer.

The comfort came pretty quickly, with only one more bake required to add slightly more arch support. Once done, these felt incredibly comfortable and have stayed that way through many longer rides. The toe box is wide and can't really be slimmed down, so if you're a fan of Sidi shoes, these probably won't be for you.

Setting up the cleats is also very easy with a very good microgrid that helps to line everything up properly and makes small adjustments much easier than standard markings. The three cleat holes are located nicely under the ball of the foot, making it easy to get a comfortable setup.

The one area where the adjustment isn't so good is the closure system. This combination of ratchet and Velcro closure is fine, but the adjustments aren't as small as those from a dial system. If you want that dial system then you'll have to pay £50 more for the Riot+ which also has a few more colour options if the white/black or black/white just isn't fun enough for you.

Apart from the closure system, the shoe is identical to the Riot+ pair that Jack reviewed a couple of years ago. And having used these for plenty of training rides and club runs, I'd agree with his general observation that these are very comfortable performance shoes at a very good price.

The stiffness is very high with lots of that coming from the tub construction. Through the testing period, I've not experienced any hotspots or numbness so I wouldn't say that the soles are harsh in any way.

In terms of price, there's not much to compare them to – the company's own Riot+ being the closest at £150. They get you a Boa dial and are probably the ones that I'd spend my own money on. Value here is very good, though. The shoes are well made, easy to clean and spare parts are easy to get.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best performance road shoes

In conclusion, if you're after performance shoes on a very tight budget then these are fabulous. The fit for wide feet and heat moulding will make these a brilliant purchase for those with difficult feet.

Verdict

Comfortable, stiff, heat mouldable and just £99 – there's lots to love here